RODDY GOW,  O.B.E

Roddy Gow is the Founder of the Asia Scotland Institute in Edinburgh, a new pan Asian NGO, with the mission to equip Tomorrow’s Leaders in Scotland with the knowledge and skill to engage effectively with the Asian markets and improve links between Scotland and the  Asian region. He is also the Chairman and Founder of Canongate Partners, an international consulting firm, specialised in solving human and financial capital challenges for clients seeking to enter Asia and the Emerging Markets. His long experience of global executive search consulting also includes Chairing the Advisory Board of Positive Moves Consulting(UK), a leading global executive search consulting firm specialising in senior appointments in the Emerging Markets of Asia and Africa and in the provision of advice on doing business in those regions. He was previously the Chief Executive of Asia House in London, a pan Asian not for profit institution , where he drove its mission to educate and inform the people of the UK about a region extending from the Gulf in the West to Japan in the East.

An international business leader who has successfully built and led global practices and developed clients at the highest levels, he has also been active in volunteer leadership positions and as a speaker in business forums. He has lived and worked in the United States for many years and travelled extensively in Asia, Africa and South America. During a career spanning service as an Officer in the British Army, several years as a banker in the UK and the US and over thirty years working at the highest levels of global executive search, he has always been interested in the challenges of understanding and embracing the skills needed to function effectively across national  boundaries. He has worked on expanding understanding of where the art of leadership intersects with the science of management. He was awarded the OBE in 2002 for his services for British Trade in the United States.

A member of the Business Advisory Council of the Said Business School, Oxford University, he is a Visiting Professor at London Metropolitan University and a member of the Advisory Council for the Welsh National Opera.

Professional Experience

November 2011 – present
Chairman and Founder of Canongate Consulting Limited, based in London and Edinburgh.

Chairman and Founder of the Asia Scotland Institute.

Chairman, Positive Moves Consulting (UK). Indian headquartered, global Emerging Markets executive search firm.

Vice Chairman, Cubitt Consulting, a leading UK Investor and Public Relations consulting firm with global reach.

January 2010- November 2011
Chief Executive, Asia House, London. The only pan Asian institution in the UK with a Mission to educate and inform the people of the UK about Asia through programmes in Arts & Culture, Policy & Politics and Business & Economics.

2002 - 2010
Gow & Partners Group, London and New York; Founder and Chairman. A firm set up to provide global executive search and consulting for multinational companies as well as private equity firms. Built a network of partner offices in twelve cities worldwide through a subsidiary company, Gow & Partners World Team.  Developed a Board Advisory practice to assist public company Boards with their annual review through Gow Board Consulting.

2000 – 2002
Odgers Ray & Berndtson, London

Director and Chairman of the Board and Financial Services Practices. Left to start own business.

1995 – 2000
LAI Worldwide, later TMP, New York

Executive Vice President responsible for the North East Region and Co-Head Global Financial Services Practice.

Ran New York office which became Head Office of the firm and increased revenues from $4.5 to $30 million in two years. Member of the Board of LAI and also Amrop International. Served as Chairman of The Americas and later Deputy Chairman Worldwide. Involved with LAI’s listing on NASDAQ, the first executive search firm to go public. Involved with the acquisition of Ward Howell. Left following acquisition by TMP and change of leadership.

1994 – 1995
Russell Reynolds Associates, New York

Managing Director. Developed a geographic practice with financial services clients in Latin America. Generated new clients for the firm. Was recruited away to assume a larger role.

1991 – 1994
GKR Group Limited, London

Chief Executive of this British global executive search consulting company with four offices in the UK and eight in other countries around the world. Left after the untimely death of the principal shareholder and Chairman.

1983 – 1991
Russell Reynolds Associates, London.

Executive Director and then Managing Director. Head of Global Financial Services Practice 1986. Managing Director, London Office and Member of the Firm’s six person Executive Committee, 1988 – 1991; Managing Director International 1990.

1978 – 1983
Barclays Bank in London and New York

Member of the Management Development Programme. Gained experience of retail and corporate banking. Became Vice President with Barclays Bank of New York.

1966 – 1978
British Army, officer in the Scots Guards

Retired as Captain. Held leadership positions in NW Germany, Northern Ireland and Belgium. Served as ADC to the Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, the senior officer in the Alliance, and was an Instructor at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Education

Winchester College, Winchester, UK

Trinity College, Cambridge University, UK; BA Hons,1970; MA 1972

Professional and Other Awards

OBE, Officer of the British Empire; Awarded for services to British Trade in the US.

FRSA Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts

FIPM Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Management

ACIB Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

Voluntary Service

Member, Royal Company of Archers, Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland, 1982- present

Chairman, Action Resource Centre 1991 – 1993; which later became Business in the Community

Chairman, British American Chamber of Commerce of London and New York, (now British American Business), 1999 – 2001.  Co-led the merger with American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM UK); Advisory Board member 2008-present.

Chairman, President and Vice President; British American Business Council, 2001 – 2003

Member, Guild of International Bankers; London 2001- present

Member, Advisory Council, London Symphony Orchestra 2001–2010

Co-Chairman, American Foundation of the London Symphony Orchestra 2001- 2009

Fellow, Foreign Policy Association, New York; 2005 – 2009

Member, Business Advisory Council, Said Business School, Oxford University, 2007- present

Visiting Professor, London Metropolitan University 2011 -present

Council Member, Brookings Institution, Washington DC; 2008 – 2010

Director, American Scottish Foundation 2008 – present

Member, Advisory Board, Welsh National Opera, Cardiff, Wales; 2012 –present

roddy.gow@canongatepartners.com

A few of his articles

Examining the structures that support independence, March 2014
Asia offers a window of opportunity, January 2014
Scots leading the way in saving water, December 2013
Can the Scottish lion match the Asian tiger of Singapore, October 2013
And one by ASI's James Tulloch, August 2013